Display structure

ABSTRACT

A display structure of the type used to support and highlight merchandise with advertising and decorative material. The display structure is of generally L-shaped configuration and is constructed from a sheet of plastic material vacuum molded into a base portion, an upstanding back portion, and a hinge portion connecting the base and back portions. Adjacent the hinge portion, the base and back portions have formed therein frictional catch means interengageable to hold the base and back portions together in a L-shape. The base and back portions each have a central display surface and four peripheral side walls. Two of the side walls extend from the hinge portion and substantially touch when the base and back portions are fastened together; the remaining side walls terminate in an outwardly extending flange connecting with the hinge portion. The frictional catch means are formed on the two side walls extending from the hinge, with a pair of protuberances formed on one wall being frictionally received in a pair of recesses provided in the other wall. The protuberances and recesses have parallel lateral walls perpendicular to the hinge line which frictionally engage, the protuberances each being provided with a raised portion which fits behind the opposite side wall and latches the base and back portions together.

United States Patent Carter 51 Sept. 26, 1972 [54 DISPLAY STRUCTURE [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Pioneer Packaging, Inc., Chicopee,

Mass.

[22] Filed: June25, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 49,860

r aklr nl hi nee Mas [52] US. Cl ..248/460, 248/174 [5 l] Int. Cl. ..A47b 97/00 [58] Field of Search ..248/l74, 459, 460; 211/42,

Primary Examiner.l. Franklin Foss Att0rneyRoberts, Cushman & Grover [57] ABSTRACT A display structure of the type used to support and highlight merchandise with advertising and decorative material. The display structure is of generally L- shaped configuration and is constructed from a sheet of plastic material vacuum molded into a base portion, an upstanding back portion, and a hinge portion connecting the base and back portions. Adjacent the hinge portion, the base and back portions have formed therein frictional catch means interengageable to hold the base and back portions together in a L-shape. The base and back portions each have a central display surface and four peripheral side walls. Two of the side walls extend from the hinge portion and substantially touch when the base and back portions are fastened together; the remaining side walls terminate in an outwardly extending flange connecting with the hinge portion. The frictional catch means are formed on the v two side walls extending from the hinge, with a pair of protuberances formed on one wall being frictionally received in a pair of recesses provided in the other wall. The protuberances and recesses have parallel lateral walls perpendicular to the hinge line which frictionally engage, the protuberances each being provided with a raised portion which fits behind the opposite side wall and latches the base and back portions together.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPZ :912 3.6 93, 92s

DISPLAY STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the present invention relates to devices used in display of merchandise, for example in retail outlets, to draw attention to the merchandise and to supplement it with decorative or advertising matter, such devices usually being provided by a manufacturer to assist in the promotion of hismerchandise.

Display devices of the type described must satisfy several criteria if they are to be practicable. First, they must be inexpensive so as to keep advertising and promotional costs low. Second, they must be easily and inexpensively distributable, both from their manufacturer to the advertiser, and from the advertiser to the merchant. Low bulk and high packing density both simplify distribution and lower transportation costs. Third, the display device must be one which does not tax the merchants ingenuity or patience for its set-up, as actual use of these display devices is largely through the cooperation of the merchant. Display devices which are inconvenient or a nuisance to set up are frequently ignored by the merchants. Fourth, the device must be one which can have advertising or decorative matter applied thereto, and it must be durable if it is to perform its function of enhancing and promoting the goods for a reasonable period of time. Various cardboard and plastic devices have been devised to meet these criteria, but thus far none has met all of them successfully.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the present invention are to provide a display structure which is inexpensively made, compactly shipped, easily assembled in the field, easily provided with advertising or decorative matter, and durable in use.

According to the invention, a display structure is provided in generally L-shaped configuration, and comprises plastic material formed, for example by vacuum molding of sheets thereof, into a base portion, an upstanding back portion, and a hinge portion connecting the base and back portions together. The base and back portions have frictional catch means formed therein adjacent the hinge portion, the catch means being interengageable to hold the base and back portions together in said L-shaped configuration. Preferably the base and back portions each have a wall extending from the hinge portion, and the frictional catch means comprise protuberances extending from one of said walls and frictionally fitting into recesses provided in the other of said walls, the p'rotuberances and recesses having parallel lateral walls perpendicular to the hinge portion, with a raised detent portion on the protuberance lateral wall fitting against the recess lateral wall and behind the side wall in which its mating recess is formed, thereby to latch the base and back portions together. Preferably, base and back portions have central display areas and peripheral walls terminating in a flange, the base and back portions being cupped so that a plurality of the display structures can be stacked with the base and back portions of one display structure fitting within the base and back portions of an adjacent display structure. The display structure of the present invention thus can be inexpensively made with vacuum molding techniques, can be shipped compactly due to the nesting stacking permitted, can be readily erected in the field without tools by the simple act of pushing two mating parts together, and can be easily furnished with decorative or advertising material on one or more of the surfaces supplied, either by painting or printing them, or applying sheets of other material.

These and other objects and novel aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

Description of Drawing FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an assembled display structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the display structure of FIG. 1, unassembled;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the assembled display structure;

FIG. 5 is a section of line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the catch means in engagement;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the catch means disengaged; and

FIG. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of FIG. 2, showing in larger scale details of catch means thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a display structure according to the invention as it is ultimately intended to be used for display of goods. As shown, it has a generally L-shaped configuration, with a base portion 10 to support the goods, for example, cosmetics, medicines, shaving equipment, and the like, and a back portion 12 extending upwardly therefrom to hold decorative or advertising material.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display structure is initially formed from a sheet of plastic material, for example by vacuum molding, with the base portion 10 and back portion 12 connected by a narrow, curved hinge portion 14. The base portion 10 has a central display surface 16 supported by one peripheral side wall 18 extending to the hinge portion 14 and by three peripheral side walls 20, 22 and 24 extending to an outwardly directed flange 26 which connects with the hinge portion 14. As shown, the walls 18, 20, 22, and 24 all form an obtuse angle with flange 26, so that base portion 10 forms a dished or cupped space 28 therebeneath.

The back portion 12, like base portion 10, has a display surface 30, supported by one peripheral side wall 32 extending to hinge portion 14 and by three peripheral side walls 34, 36, and 38 extending to an outwardly directed flange 40 connecting with hinge portion 14, the side walls 32-38 being at an obtuse angle to flange 40 so that back portion 12 forms a dished space 42 thereunder.

The display surface 30 of back portion 12, however, is not flat like the illustrated display surface 16 of base portion 10, but instead comprises a rim 44 surrounding a sunken or recessed area 46. The display surfaces 16 and 30, in addition to being either totally flat or having large flat recessed areas as illustrated, are suitable for several variations in form. For example, the display surfaces can be provided with raised as well as sunken areas, or with decorative has-relief designs, and the base display area can be provided with specially shaped recesses or protrusions adapted to hold particular goods, or their containers, secure from falling.

The sidewalls l8 and 32 of base portion 10 and back portion 12, respectively, are angled so that they substantially touch, as shown in FIG. 4, when the display structure is erected by rotating base portion 10 and back portion 12 with respect to one another about hinge portion 14. In order to secure the base and back portions together in erected position, frictional catch means are provided in the side walls 18 and 32. The frictional catch means comprises a pair of protube rances 50 and 60 formed in side wall 32 and adapted to be frictionally received in recesses 70 and 80 provided in side wall 18. As FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate most clearly, the protuberances 50 and 60 are shaped like right triangular prisms and have triangular lateral walls 52, 54 and 62, 64 which are perpendicular to hinge portion 14 andwhich are joined by rectangular top walls 56 and 66 parallel to flange 40, and by rectangular front walls .58 and 68 perpendicular to flange 40. Recesses 70 and 80 have a mating shape, with triangular lateral walls 72, 74 and 82, 84 which are perpendicular to hinge portion 14 and which are joined by rectangular bottom walls 76 and 86 parallel to flange 26 and by rectangular back walls 78 and 88 perpendicular to flange 26.

The protuberances 50 and 60 and recesses 70 and 80 come into frictional contact along their triangular lateral walls. The interior or facing walls 52 and 62 of protuberances 50 and 60 are each provided with a raised portion 52r or 62r which bulges against the mating wall 72 or 82 in the recesses 70 or 80 and which is positioned to rest against this wall 72 or 82 just within recess 70 or 80 from side wall 18, the flexibility of the wall 72 or 82 and the rigidity of side wall 18 serving to latch the raised portion 52r or 62r within the recess 70 M80 to hold the display structure in its erected position (see FIGS. and 6). It should be noted that each protuberance may be provided with more than one raised portion such as 52r or 62r, although only one is shown.

As described above and shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the protuberances 50 and 60 and recesses 70 and 80 have their respective walls disposed either parallel to or perpendicular to the flanges 26 and 40 to faciliate stacking in a nesting manner. From FIG. 3 it can be readily seen that a plurality of display structures of the type described can be stacked very compactly, the base portion and back portion 12 of one such structure fitting within the dished spaces 28 and 42 provided in these same portions in adjacent structures for very compact stacking. In some instances it is desired to seal off one or both of the dished spaces 28 and 42 with a flat sheet of material secured to the flanges 26 and 40, and in these instances the nesting manner of stacking is prevented, although shipping space is still conserved by stacking the display structures flat, i.e., not erected. Whenever it is desired to put the display structure in its final form, as shown in FIG. 1, it is an extremely simple matter to fold the back portion toward the base portion in the direction of arrow 90 (FIG. 3) to interengage the catch means. If the flexibility of the material from which the display structure is made interferes with the entrance of raised portions 52r or 62r within slots or 80, it is a simple matter to pinch the side walls 18 and 32 together and thus fasten the catch securely. As shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 4, when the display structure is erected, the catch means are not visible and do not furnish an unslightly distraction to the decorative or advertising matter applied to one or more of the display areas or walls of the structure.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the display structure of the present inventionsatisfies the criteria initially set out. The structure has a shape which is readily susceptible to vacuum molding techniques, which permits inexpensive construction. Suitable vacuum molding materials include ABS, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, Noryl (a styrene modified polyphenylene ether), and others. Compression molding techniques are also suitable. The shape of the device is such that it can be transported flat, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the structures nesting to form a very compact stack thereof. In the field, the structure can be erected very simply by folding one part toward the other about a hinge portion provided therein. Once erected, the device remains fastened, and because it is made from a substantially inert. plastic material it resists warping, tattering, and other disintegration leading to a shopworn appearance.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that the invention includes all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A display structure comprising two parts of rectangular configuration disposed with an edge of one adjacent an edge of the other and hinge means integrally connecting said edges such that said parts may be disposed prone in a common plane or at right angles to each other, with one part substantially horizontal and the other substantially vertical, each part comprising a hollow molded structure having a flat base from which rises a plateau having a display surface, each plateau being comprised of three side walls spaced from and parallel to the distal ends and sides of the base such as to form a mat around three sides of the plateau and a fourth wall coincident with the proximal end of the base, said end and side walls having lower edges connected to the base and upper edges connected to the display surface, said plateaus protruding from the bases and providing prominent, substantially horizontal and substantially vertical display surfaces, the plateau having the horizontal display surface being substantially flat, the plateau having the substantially vertical surface containing a recess bounded by a frame of uniform width around its four sides, said recess being adapted to receive a pictorial, and latch means on the walls coinciding with the adjacent edges of the bases frictionally interengageable by setting the parts at right angles to each other to hold the parts at right angles to each other.

2. A display structure according to claim 1, wherein the side walls slope from their lower edges upwardly away from the edges of the bases such that the areas of the display surfaces are smaller in area than the areas defined by the lower edges of the side walls.

3. A display structure according to claim 1, wherein the walls at the distal and proximal ends of the bases are of rectangular configuration such that their upper edges are parallel to their lower edges and the walls along the sides are trapezoidal and have upper edges which slope upwardly from the walls at the distal end to the walls at the proximal ends, such that the display sur 5 faces are inclined with respect to the bases. 

1. A display structure comprising two parts of rectangular configuration disposed with an edge of one adjacent an edge of the other and hinge means integrally connecting said edges such that said parts may be disposed prone in a common plane or at right angles to each other, with one part substantially horizontal and the other substantially vertical, each part comprising a hollow molded structure having a flat base from which rises a plateau having a display surface, each plateau being comprised of three side walls spaced from and parallel to the distal ends and sides of the base such as to form a mat around three sides of the plateau and a fourth wall coincident with the proximal end of the base, said end and side walls having lower edges connected to the base and upper edges connected to the display surface, said plateaus protruding from the bases and providing prominent, substantially horizontal and substantially vertical display surfaces, the plateau having the horizontal display surface being substantially flat, the plateau having the substantially vertical surface containing a recess bounded by a frame of uniform width around its four sides, said recess being adapted to receive a pictorial, and latch means on the walls coinciding with the adjacent edges of the bases frictionally interengageable by setting the parts at right angles to each other to hold the parts at right angles to each other.
 2. A display structure according to claim 1, wherein the side walls slope from their lower edges upwardly away from the edges of the bases such that the areas of the display surfaces are smaller in area than the areas defined by the lower edges of the side walls.
 3. A display structure according to claim 1, wherein the walls at the distal and proximal ends of the bases are of rectangular configuration such that their upper edges are parallel to their lower edges and the walls along the sides are trapezoidal and have upper edges which slope upwardly from the walls at the distal end to the walls at the proximal ends, such that the display surfaces are inclined with respect to the bases. 